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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 2025).

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

17733 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 53 of them this year alone and, so far, 53 this month (Jan. 20).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free. Fortnightly.
Thu 23: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Obituaries 2024.
Thu 23: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:30-6:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 23: Pedal Point Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 24: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. SOLD OUT!
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Lindisfarne Social Club, Wallsend. 9:00pm. Admission: TBC. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.

Sat 25: Boys of Brass @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 25: New '58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson's Wharf, Hartlepool. 6:30pm (doors). Free. A Burns' Night event. Jazz, swing, funk, soul, blues etc.
Sat 25: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 25: Red Kites Jazz @ Parish Hall, St Barnabas’ Church, Rowlands Gill. 7:30pm. £10.00. BYOB (tea & coffee available), raffle. Proceeds to St Barnabas’ Church. Performance feat. Shayo (vocals).
Sat 25: Jack & Jay’s Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 26: Musicians Unlimited @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Graham Hardy Eclectic Quartet @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 26: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 26: Tweed River Jazz Band @ Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:30pm. Free.
Sun 26: Gratkowski, Tramontana, Beresford, Affifi @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00. JNE.
Sun 26: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 27: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 28: ???

Wed 29: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 29: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 29: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Thu 30: Matters Unknown (aka Jonathan Enser, Nubiyan Twist) + support TBA @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 8:00pm (7:00pm doors). £12.22 (gig & food); £9:04 (gig only).
Thu 30: Soznak @ The Mill Tavern, Hebburn. 8:00pm. Free.
Thu 30: Struggle Buggy @ Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Rhythm & blues.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Monday, November 13, 2023

Daniel John Martin @ Claypath Deli, Durham - Nov. 9

Daniel John Martin (violin, vocals, whistling) with Swing Manouche - Mick Shoulder (guitar); Dave Smith (rhythm guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass) + Giles Strong (guitar)

The return of 'DJM', as Daniel John Martin is known, is a cause for celebration. Twenty four hours earlier, DJM joined Mick Shoulder's Swing Manouche for a gig in Barnard Castle, this evening (Thursday) the second of three gigs in the region attracted a select audience to Claypath Deli in Durham. Continental beers (it ain't a real ale emporium), pizzas the size of dustbin lids, a chilled ambience, it had all the makings of a memorable night. 

DJM's casual air could deceive the casual listener. Those who had yet to encounter the Paris based violinist were in for a pleasant surprise. They were in the presence of a true virtuoso. Harry Archer's I Love You opened the show. Quite simply, magnificent! Technique in abundance, swagger, swing, DJM has got it all. An engaging character, the evening's star attraction happily afforded space to his fellow musicians: Mick Shoulder, sharing the soloist's workload with DJM, Dave Smith, right on the money as the rhythmic anchor, likewise, Swing Manouche's string bassist, Paul Grainger.

Django Reinhardt's Dinette (DJM singing one verse), bassist Grainger soloing effectively on Djangology, the Gershwins' Oh, Lady Be Good! - the world's finest concert halls could/should accommodate this stuff yet here we were on Claypath with a beer and pizza. 


DJM singing It Had to Be You (marvellous), Reinhardt's Troublant Bolero, it was time to invite the evening's guest to join the party. DJM asked Giles Strong what he'd like to play. Guitarist Strong replied: You play something, I'll just join in. And so he did,. The Sheik of Araby the tune. How do they do it?! 

Isham Jones' I'll See You in My Dreams, lyrical, gently swinging, it was almost time to go, but not before the Reinhardt/Grappelli favourite, Oriental Shuffle. It had been a fabulous evening. The following day there would be one further opportunity to catch DJM and Swing Manouche in the historic surroundings of Auckland Castle.          
 
Set list: I Love YouThe Anniversary SongDinette (vocal); DjangologyDanse Norvegienne (Norwegian Dance)Oh, Lady Be Good!Douce AmbianceCoquetteIt Had to be You (vocal); Troublant BoleroThe Sheik of ArabyI'll See You in my DreamsOriental Shuffle. Russell

1 comment :

Dave Smith said...

Thank you for the nice review Russell.

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